In the Redemptorist liturgical calendar, August 25 commemorates Blessed Methodius Dominic Trčka, priest and martyr.
Looking at the lives of saints, we often wonder what they can teach us. At what moments does the faith experience of the saints come into contact with the reality of our daily lives? Recalling the life testimony of a Slovak Redemptorist martyr during the time of communism, Father Daniel Atanáz Mandzák CSsR shares his reflection on fear and encourages us to trust God in every situation of our lives.
Was Bl. Methodius afraid? Can we have fear as Christians?
On the night of 22-23 April 1919, an unknown person planted an explosive device at the side entrance of St. Michael’s Cathedral in Brno, opposite the Redemptorist monastery. The massive explosion outraged the entire neighbourhood and caused material damage, especially to the windows of the residential buildings. One of the Redemptorists, frightened, asked Dominik Methodius Trčka: “What did we do to them? “He meant, why was the explosive planted at the Redemptorist Church. The young missionary remained calm and answered him briefly: “We serve Christ.” It was not exaggerated heroism, but the knowledge that Jesus was being persecuted who would be even despised and rejected by his disciples. He walked with a similar determination throughout his life. He did not shrink from difficulties and adversities because he believed that “God was with them.”
What is fear?
Fear is a natural response to physical or psychological threat. It affects both our body and mind. It is one of the oldest emotions, a bodily act that triggers the alarm stress response. Its role is to prepare the body to attack or flee. Fear, in general, is not bad, but we must keep it under control. Stress hormones help us overcome short-term situations that take us by surprise and put us in a bind. When stress is long-term, even chronic, it already shows up in our health. It alters our experience, enslaves us and destroys us. We experience manifestations such as insomnia, headaches or body aches, heart palpitations or other concomitant phenomena. We may also have larger health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes or other illnesses.
Most of the time we are afraid of things related to relationships, family life, work or society, of not being accepted, of failure or persecution, of the future, of our health, of death, of trials or of fear of heights or the dark. Fear cannot be banished by saying go away, leave me alone, I am not afraid. Experts say that when we have fear, we need to take our attention away from it in another direction, not to think about what triggered it in us.
As a preventive measure, it is good to be active, to find time for oneself and one’s hobbies alongside one’s duties, not to let oneself be overwhelmed by negative information and, of course, support from loved ones or friends is also important. If the fear turns into anxiety and persists for weeks or months, it may already be an illness, so in this case it is necessary to seek professional medical help.
What does the Bible say about fear?
Anyone who reads the Holy Scriptures will already know that there we find many answers to our daily lives and problems. In its pages we can find two kinds of fear, namely fear of God and fear as an emotion that warns of some threat or danger.
The psalmist writes that God’s name is Holy and awesome. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it[a] have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:9-10) And the book of Proverbs exhorts, “In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and one’s children will have a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, so that one may avoid the snares of death.” (Prov 14:26-27) God is our Creator and Lord, but we are not to fear Him. He wants our salvation, not punishment for us. Fear of the Lord is essentially awe, a respect for His power and glory. If we fear someone, we fear them, we run from them, we avoid them. But we do not run away from God; on the contrary, we desire to know him, to love him, and to be united with him.
On the other hand, the Bible also speaks of fear as an emotion that can control us. Fear is a tool used by the devil. He rules over death and he rules over the fear of death. Fear is not a good counselor. Even the Apostle Paul reminds us, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” (2 Tim 1:7)
Adam and Eve hid from God because of fear. Abraham lied out of fear and allowed his wife to be kidnapped. Saul sacrificed for fear of men, and in so doing not only disrespected God’s will, but lost the kingdom. Elijah, out of fear, fled from Jezebel and fell into depression. Peter denied Jesus for fear of his life. Paul was reluctant to preach the Word of God in Corinth because of fear and so on.
We are not perfect, but even so we need to continually take refuge in God who is our refuge and help. He loves us with an infinite love to which we are called to respond with his love. The Apostle John explains and also directs us, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.“ (1 Jn 4:18)
Do not be afraid!
Fear is typical of every person, but God reminds us in both the Old and New Testaments, “Do not be afraid!” It is said to be repeated up to 365 times, that is, for every day, so that we will not be afraid. It is a message from a loving Heavenly Father to His beloved children.
The prophet Isaiah speaks of the calling of the deliverer, therefore God’s people have nothing to fear: “Fear not, for I am with you; do not look back, for I am your God; I strengthen you, yea, I help you; I hold you with my saving right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
In the Gospel according to Matthew, we read how Jesus instructs his apostles. He also tells them about the importance of courage in confessing their faith in Jesus Christ. For there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be known. What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light, and what you hear in the ear, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. But you also have all the hairs of your head numbered. Fear not, then, for you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Mt 10:26-31)
Trust in God
In his own time, now St. John Paul II said: “Do not be afraid! We need these words today perhaps more than ever. It is necessary to reinforce the certainty that there is One who holds the destiny of this transient world, who holds the keys to death and the underworld, who is the alpha and omega. And that someone is Love …”
We need to learn to trust God. We trust God, we are not afraid; we don’t trust God, we are afraid. No matter what happens, let us trust God because we know God’s power and strength. For the key to overcoming fear is to trust in God. We not only trust in God, but we trust God, thus rejecting fear. Relying on Him in our most difficult moments and trusting that all will be well, this is the right attitude. And this reliance comes from our relationship with God, from knowing God to be the source of good and to be good to us as well.
In the book of the prophet Jeremiah we read, “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jer 17:7-8)
Examples attract
The Bible offers us many examples of trust where a particular person or even an entire nation overcomes fear because of God’s help. Like a small child who hides behind his mother or father when he is afraid, God becomes a shield and protection for his beloved children.
When God decided to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage, He led them toward the Red Sea. In the book of Exodus we read, “The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” (Ex 13:21-22) God assured Moses that he need not fear, for he was with him and his people. Moses asked for a sign so that he could “see the glory of God.” In this God did not grant him, for whoever saw his face would have to die. (Ex 33:12-23) And Moses went on his way again, ahead of his people, trusting in God.
The prophet Elijah also received special grace on Mount Horeb. He was in a very bad frame of mind, on the run, and asking to die. He defied the pagan priests and prophets, even the queen, doing God’s will, and in the end, he had to fear for his life, run and hide. But God sent him an angel who fed and watered him. Consequently, wandering for forty days and nights, he arrived at Mount Horeb. In conversation with God, he lamented that he was left alone and that his enemies were after him because they wanted to kill him. But God gave him a sign of His presence. Elijah saw him pass by up close. He wasn’t in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire; he was in the sound of sheer silence. So God is not just a punishing judge, but he is good and merciful. (1 Kings 18:1 – 19:21) Elijah became convinced that God was with him and boldly continued his ministry as a prophet.
We also know the incident in the life of Jesus when he warned his apostles and disciples that he would suffer, be killed, but on the third day he would rise from the dead. Then the apostle Peter objected that this could not happen, to which Jesus replied: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance[a] to me, for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”(Mt 16:23) These are stern words, but we can explain why Jesus uttered them. He wanted to both admonish and protect Peter. Another translation of this text says: “But he turned and said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, you are a stumbling-block to me, because you think not on things of God, but on things of men.” Jesus put Himself between Peter and Satan, so that He was a kind of shield or protective wall for Peter. In this way he protected him from danger.
When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before his capture, torture, and crucifixion, he also experienced fear (Mt 14:32-42), since he was the Son of God but also a true man. But he did not let fear overwhelm him, he was not afraid of the horror that awaited him. He was aware and trusted that the Father was with him, protecting him. In this spirit, he took up the cross and the ignominious death to set us free and redeem us, to crucify all our fears, to triumph over evil and all that enslaves us.
Did Blessed Methodius cope with fear?
Like every human being, Dominic Methodius Trčka, now a blessed martyr, went through difficult trials, suffering and even persecution in his life. He had many reasons to be afraid of. As a child he lost his mother and was left a half-orphan, which was certainly a very difficult fate. His mother was at least partially replaced by his older sisters, with whom he had a nice relationship. Student life is a nice time, but also a challenging time. However, he lived it away from his loved ones, because that was how religious and priestly formation worked at that time. He could go to his own once a year for a short holiday, sometimes not even that, otherwise he was always in the monastery. The experience of the two world wars had also reinforced him that living in peace and tranquillity was not a reality. He also went through radical changes of environment, language, culture and liturgical rite when he went from being a Roman Catholic Redemptorist, born between Moravia and Silesia, to a Greek Catholic proclaiming the Word of God to the Ruthenians and Slovaks under the Carpathian Mountains. He faced challenges as the founder of monasteries in the Ukrainian Ivano-Frankivsk, Slovak Stropkov and Michalovce, or as the first proto-igumen (in charge) of the newly founded Michalovce Redemptorist vice-province. Accused of collaboration with Bishop Pavel Peter Gojdič and loyalty to the Greek Catholic Church, he stood trial under the Slovak state and under communist totalitarianism. While the first trial turned out happily, as he was acquitted, the second trial turned out much worse, as he received a 12-year unconditional prison sentence.
We could go on enumerating the “occasions” when the blessed martyr Methodius could or even should have been afraid. And was he afraid? Surely, like every man, he was afraid. After all, other saints had it too. Everyone is afraid of something. As a Christian, however, he knew how to process that fear. Trusting in God’s help, he knew how to conquer it. He did not give in to fear for his health, his future, his position. Even prison, harsh detention, or unjust conviction did not break him. Everywhere he went, he was accompanied by the Good God, who in Jesus assured his disciples and apostles, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Mt 28:20)
Fr. Daniel Atanáz Mandzák, CSsR.
(Original text in the Slovak language and the Bible quotes are modified from the official NRSV translation)
